Tired of your favorite couch being covered with
claw marks? There are cheap and easy options
to save your furniture. It is important to
understand that you cannot and should not prevent
a cat from scratching. Scratching is a normal
and necessary behavior for cats. It allows
them to shed the outer layer of their claws and
provides a great way for them stretch out their
muscles. Cats also scratch to mark their
territory. When scratching on items such
as furniture or scratching posts, cats leave scent
from the sweat glands on the pads of their paws
and between the pads. This scent says, 'I
was here, and this is my territory.'
MAKE YOUR FURNITURE UNAPPEALING
To
prevent unwanted scratching, start by making the
area unappealing by applying a double sided tape
like Sticky Paws. Cat's
paws are extremely sensitive to touch, having
evolved to detect the slightest vibrations of
prey rustling through leaves and brush. This
acute sensitivity makes "sticky" surfaces
exceptionally annoying, and cats will avoid scratching
any place so uninviting. And don’t
worry about having unsightly tape stuck to your
favorite couch - Sticky Paws are nearly invisible
to the human eye.
SUPPLY A GOOD SCRATCHING POST
You
also need to provide your cat with an acceptable
place to scratch. A good scratching post,
like our Alpine Scratcher, provides
and ideal alternative to your furniture. Cats
love to scratch right when they wake up, so place
this lightweight, portable scratcher next to
your cat’s favorite sleeping spot to encourage
use.
To encourage scratching in appropriate places,
praise and reward your kitty with treats every
time you see her using her scratching post, and
not your furniture.
WHAT ABOUT DECLAWING?
Declawing
is a surgical procedure, also called onychectomy,
in which the animal's toes are amputated at the
last joint. Most people do not realize
that a portion of the bone - not only nail -
is removed. Declawing may result in permanent
lameness, arthritis, and other long-term complications.
It is actually illegal in many countries. For
more information about declawing, please go to
www.pawproject.org.
